NOTA CORTA REVISTA COLOMBIANA

DE CIENCIA ANIMAL
Rev Colombiana Cienc Anim 2018; 10(1):82-85. DOI: 10.24188/recia.v10.n1.2018.635

New records of Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale (Duméril

and Bibron, 1851) from the Central Cordillera of Colombia

Nuevos registros de Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale (Duméril y

Bibron, 1851) de la Cordillera Central de Colombia

Arango-L, Julián1* Biól; Patiño-S, Dahian1 Biól; Benítez-C, Lorena1 Biól; Botero-B, Álvaro2,3 M.Sc.

1
Universidad del Quindío, Programa de Biología, Armenia, Colombia.
2
Universidad del Quindío, Grupo de investigación Biodiversidad y Educación Ambiental -
BIOEDUQ, Armenia, Colombia.
3
Fundación Neotrópica-Colombia, La Tebaida, Quindío, Colombia.

KEYWORDS: ABSTRACT

Andes; We record the presence of Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale (DUMÉRIL

Colombia;
Distribution records;
Kinosternidae;
White-Lipped Mud Turtle.
and BIBRON, 1851) populations in the department of Quindío, Central Cordillera
of Colombia. Despite the turtle is found in the neighboring departments of Tolima
and Valle del Cauca, this is the first evidence of its distribution on this locality. We
present biological and ecological records of individuals in the lower and middle
area of La Vieja basin inhabiting small tributaries and ponds between pastures.
Currently it is unknown whether the species was introduced or ignored until now.

PALABRAS CLAVE: RESUMEN

Andes; Registramos la presencia de poblaciones de Kinosternon leucostomum

Colombia;
Registros de distribución;
Kinosternidae;
Tortuga Tapaculo.
postinguinale (DUMÉRIL y BIBRON, 1851) en el departamento de Quindío ubicado
en la cordillera Central de Colombia. A pesar de que la tortuga se encuentra en los
departamentos vecinos de Tolima y Valle del Cauca, esta es la primera evidencia
de su distribución en esta localidad. Presentamos registros biológicos y ecológicos
de individuos en el área baja y media de la cuenca La Vieja habitando en pequeños
afluentes y charcas entre pastos. Actualmente se desconoce si la especie fue
introducida o ignorada hasta ahora.

INFORMACIÓN
Recibido: 27-10-2017;
Aceptado: 25-01-2018.
Correspondencia autor:
arangolozanoj1@gmail.com

ISSN on line 2027-4297 2018© http://www.recia.edu.co 82

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INTRODUCTION

Kinosternon leucostomum (DUMÉRIL and BIBRON,

1851) is a species of the Kinosternidae family,
and currently has two described subspecies K. l.
leucostomum (DUMÉRIL and BIBRON, 1851) which
is distributed along Mexico (Veracruz), also present in
Belize, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua; and K. l.
postinguinale (COPE, 1887), distributed from the borders
of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, through Colombia, until
south of the Ecuadorian Pacific (GIRALDO et al., 2013;
TURTLE TAXONOMY WORKING GROUP, 2017). In
Colombia, the subspecies K. l. postinguinale, occurs in
the departments of Antioquia, Atlántico, Bolívar, Boyacá,
Caldas, Cauca, Cesar, Chocó, Córdoba, Cundinamarca,
Guajira, Magdalena, Nariño, Santander, Sucre, Tolima
and Valle del Cauca. These departments correspond
to the Caribbean, Magdalena and Pacific basins
(GIRALDO et al., 2013; MENDOZA and ROPAIN, 2017).
Kinosternon leucostomum, better known as the
White-Lipped Mud Turtle is one of the smallest South
American chelonians, reaching maximum sizes of
17 cm of straight carapace length (SCL). It presents
nocturnal activity, although it can be found active in
the day; and is usually found in freshwater ecosystems
such as rivers, creeks, wetlands and ponds; but also
on mainland. It is an omnivorous species and feeds Figure 1. Sites with the presence of Kinosternon leucostomum
on fish, invertebrates and sometimes plants (RUEDA- postinginale individuals in Quindío, Colombia. Red dots show
ALMONACID et al., 2007; CEBALLOS et al., 2016). localities: 1 = Montaña del Ocaso, 2 = Cajones creek, 3 = La
Its reproduction extends throughout the year, and they Palmita, 4 = Municipality of Calarcá.
lay between one and six eggs per nest (GIRALDO et
al., 2013). Although the subspecies K. l. postinguinale
is one of the most common turtles in some regions of Table 1. Mean values of size and weight of males, females and
Colombia, human disturbances such as fragmentation juveniles of Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale, observed
of forests, drying of wetlands, water pollution, in addition in the study localities.
to their consumption of meat and their use as pets, can
Number of Min. Max.
promote decrease in population (CORREDOR-L et al., Variable Mean
turtles Value Value
2007; RUEDA-ALMONACID et al., 2007; GIRALDO
et al., 2013; MORALES-BETANCOURT et al., 2015). Cajones creek
Currently, its conservation status has not been assessed SCL (cm) 11,94 9,53 14,19
globally by IUCN, neither is listed in any appendix of 18 Males
Weight (gr) 233,11 107,72 391,2
CITES 2017. However, it is considered as Least Concern
SCL (cm) 11,76 9,15 13,66
according to the Red Book of Colombian Reptiles 23 Females
(MORALES-BETANCOURT et al., 2015). WEIGHT (gr) 228,71 90,7 374,2
SCL (cm) 6,99 5,09 8,94
3 Juveniles
Between May to late September of 2017, we recorded the Weight (gr) 51,93 17 93,5
distribution of K. l. postinguinale in the lower and middle La Palmita
area of La Vieja basin in the Department of Quindío (900- SCL (cm) 13,27 12,35 14,11
3 Males
1500 m.a.s.l), we found 61 individuals, 44 in Cajones creek Weight (gr) 314,33 269 374
04°32’19.11” N, 075°46’7.93” W; Seven in Vereda La SCL (cm) 11,82 10,04 12,82
Palmita, Valle de Pisamal 04°24’53.05” N, 075°52’34.43” 4 Females
Weight (gr) 259,63 223,9 314,6
W; and Ten in The Natural Reserve Montaña del Ocaso El Ocaso
04°34’46.98” N, 075°51’52.95” W (Figure 1, Table 1).
SCL (cm) 12,51 9,66 13,94
Individuals were captured, measured and marked in their 6 Males
Weight (gr) 268,18 104,8 374,2
marginal scutes of their carapace (CAGLE, 1939) and the
localities were georeferenced, but no turtles were collected. SCL (cm) 12,89 10,83 14,43
4 Females
To determine the taxonomic level of the species, we used Weight (gr) 299,75 141,7 416,7
a previously collected specimen from the municipality of Note: SCL = Straight Carapace Length.
Calarcá (04°30’44.70” N, 075°39’6.13” W) (ARUQ-232)
(Figure 2).
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The individuals of K. l. postinguinale reported in this work
has been identified by the following external morphological
characters: adult individuals show a smooth, bulging and
oblong shell, which generally is in a dark brown coloration,
however, it can vary among localities, being in some others
light-brown and yellowish-brown carapaces (Figure 2 A)
(BERRY and IVERSON, 2001; GIRALDO et al., 2013).
Plastron shows a yellowish-brown coloration, whit dark
seams and it has notches into anal scutes; plastron is
relatively wide and because the previous and later lobes are
mobiles, completely covers the shell (Figure 2 B) (RUEDA-
ALMONACID et al., 2007; GIRALDO et al., 2013). Dark
brown head on the back and yellowish on the ventral side,
including the jaws that are cream colored. Yellow postorbital
broad strip on each side of the neck, which tends to be lost
in adults, where it is replaced by a mixture of yellow and
brown pits (Figure 2 C) (BERRY and IVERSON, 2001;
GIRALDO et al., 2013).
Figure 2. Kinosternon leucostomum postinguinale specimen
in the Amphibian and Reptile Collection of the University of
Quindío (ARUQ-232), collected in the municipality of Calarcá,
Quindío A. Dark brown smooth shell, (1) Vertebral shield one
in contact with marginal 2. B. low-cut and broad plastron that
almost completely covers the carapace openings, (2) hinges;
(3) anal notch almost absent. C. Detail of the head in lateral
view, characteristic cream color lips (4) postorbital ribbon
covered with yellow and brown spots.
The presence of K. l. postinguinale in the department of
Quindío has not been included in the distribution of the
species in Colombia (RUEDA-ALMONACID et al., 2007;
PÁEZ et al., 2012; TURTLE TAXONOMY WORKING
GROUP, 2017). However, BENÍTEZ-CUBILLOS and
ARANGO-LOZANO (2015) recorded its use as pet in the
department. The only turtle species previously recorded
for this Andean locality is the South American Snapping
Turtle (Chelydra acutirostris) which occupies the entire
middle and lower area of the La Vieja basin (ARANGO-
Arango, et al.
LOZANO et al., 2017). In this work, we evidenced that K.
l. postinguinale inhabits in pastures, possibly searching
for ponds, a behavior already documented for this species
(RUEDA-ALMONACID et al., 2007; GIRALDO et al., 2013).
It was also found in secondary roads, where we observed
individuals that were possibly ran over by vehicles (Figure 3
A, B), and in low-flow primary type streams and in wetlands
associated with watercourses. Seven captured individuals
of K. l. postinguinale had mutilated limbs (Figure 3 C),
possibly due to interactions with other medium vertebrates,
such as Lontra longicaudis and Chelydra acutirostris,
both predators recognized in the area of La Vieja basin
(BOTERO-BOTERO et al., 2016; YOUNG-VALENCIA et
al., 2017; ARANGO-LOZANO et al., 2017), and also, by
interaction with terrestrial predators.
Figure 3. A, B. Remains (carapace and plastron) of
Kinosternon Leucostomum postinguinale in a secondary road
of Vereda La Palmita, in the municipality of La Tebaida, Quindío.
C. individual of Kinosternon Leucostomum postinguinale with a
left upper limb mutilation; Cajones creek, Montenegro, Quindío.
In the amphibian and reptile collection of the University of
Quindío, it is stored from 2012 the only K. l. postinguinale
specimen collected (Voucher: ARUQ-232) (Figure 2). It’s a
male captured in the municipality of Calarcá 04°30’44.70”
N, 075°39’6.13” W, prior to this, there is no evidence of the
turtle in department of Quindío.
Acknowledgements: We thank Dr. Fernando Vargas-
Salinas for allowing us access to the Collection of
Amphibians and Reptiles of the University of Quindío
(ARUQ). Also, Carlos Londoño-Guarnizo and Juan Manuel
Botero-Valencia for their multiple contributions in the data
collection for this document. We also thank the National
Park of Coffee, which provided us with access to its facilities
for this study.
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